Health Alerts - November 2001

Dorel Juvenile Group, of Columbus, Ind., and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, are recalling 102,000 Cosco “Zip n Go,” “Okie Dokie” and “Carters” playpens because the plastic tabs that lock the rails can break, causing the playpen to collapse.

Dorel has received 421 reports of playpens collapsing or not locking. One 11-month-old died when his playpen collapsed.

Model numbers 05-361 through 05-364 are included in this recall. The model numbers can be found on a label on the bottom of the playpen.

The Zip n Go and Carters playpens were sold at department, toy and specialty stores, and the Okie Dokie playpens were exclusively sold at JCPenney. The playpens were sold nationwide between May 1995 and December 1999 for about $70.

Contact Dorel Juvenile Group to receive a refund or a replacement by calling (800) 314-9327 or visiting www.djgusa.com.

Safety 1st, of Canton, Mass., and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are recalling 1.5 million Fold-Up Booster Seats because the top half of the seat can come apart, causing a child to fall.

CPSC and Safety 1st have received 32 reports of the seat halves separating and seven reports of resulting injuries from falls, including a fractured arm.

Safety 1st Fold-Up Booster Seats with model numbers 173, 173A and 173B are included in this recall. The model number can be found on the back of the seat, inside the left arm panel. The arms of the booster seats are made of green and red plastic, the seat of blue plastic and the tray of yellow plastic. The booster seats have a two-piece waist strap and one crotch strap.

Major department, toy and hardware stores sold these booster seats nationwide between January 1994 and August 1999 for $18.

Contact Safety 1st by calling (888) 579-1730 or by visiting www.safety1st.com.

Evenflo Company Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are recalling 20,500 Home Décor Swing wooden baby gates because the plastic hardware that attaches to the wall can break, resulting in the gate unlatching. This could be hazardous to children because they can gain access to restricted areas, such as stairs. Also, the plastic hardware could be a choking hazard if it breaks.

Evenflo and CPSC received nine reports of children falling down stairs; four were injured. Gates with model numbers 1555/6 and manufacture dates before September 2001 are included in this recall.

Catalogs, department and specialty stores sold these gates nationwide between June 1999 and September 2001 for $100.

Contact Evenflo by calling (800) 576-0507 or by visiting www.swinggate.com.

Little Tikes Co., of Hudson, Ohio, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are recalling 250,000 “2-in-1 Snug ’n Secure” swings because the buckles on the swing can break and the shoulder restraint straps can come out, resulting in a hazardous fall.

Little Tikes and CPSC have received 14 reports of problems with the swings, with five reports of children being injured.

The swing has a blue molded plastic seat, a red T-shaped restraint in the front and four yellow suspension ropes. Only swings with the model number 4117-00 and with blue or white buckles are included in the recall.

These swings, designed for 9-month-old to 4-year-old children, were sold in juvenile product and toy stores nationwide between December 2000 and September 2001 for $20.

Contact Little Tikes at (800) 815-4820 to receive a repair kit.

Wysco Inc., of Baldwin Park, Calif., and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are recalling 95,000 “Runt” brand mini-bicycles because they lack brakes and a chain guard. The CPSC standard requires bikes of this type to have brakes and a chain guard to prevent riders from getting fingers or clothing caught in the gears.

No injuries have been reported to Wysco.

The mini-bicycles, 26 inches high and 24 inches long with two 6-inch wheels, were sold in red, blue, black or chrome. The word “Runt” and a dog face logo appear on the front of the steering column.

The bicycles were sold nationwide in bicycle, toy, discount department, convenience and specialty stores, and through Web sites and catalogs between January and July 2001 for $100.

Contact Wysco to receive a repair kit by calling (866) 868-7868 or visiting www.JustGoScooters.com.

American Suzuki Motor Corp., of Brea, Calif., and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are recalling 7,400 youth all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) because the drive chain could come off the sprockets, causing the rear axle to lock. If this occurs, the driver could lose control of the vehicle and crash.

CPSC and American Suzuki Motor Corp. have received one report of a chain coming off the sprockets of an ATV, but no injuries have been reported.

The recalled ATV model is the 2002 Suzuki QuadMaster 50, which is designed for children 6 to 12 years of age. Suzuki dealers nationwide sold these ATVs from March to August 2001 for $1,800.

Stop using these ATVs and consult a Suzuki dealer for a free repair. For more information, call American Suzuki at (714) 572-1490.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers that a jelly mini-cup candy imported from Asia could be a choking hazard. Authorities reported three children in the United States and children in other countries have died from choking on this jelly candy.

The candy is marketed in retail stores and online under different names. It is packaged in a clear plastic cup, about the size of a single-serve coffee creamer, and is sealed by a foil cover. The candy is sold in fruit flavors of soft, sticky jelly, with or without a hard fruit center.

Some candies have labels that warn of a choking hazard, but other candies are sold without any labels.

For more information contact the FDA District Office in your area or visit www.fda.gov.

Salsa Cycles, of Bloomington, Minn., and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, are recalling 500 disc-brake bicycle rims because the rims can fail during normal use, posing the risk of falls and serious injury to riders.

Salsa Cycles has received six reports of rims failing during use, but no injuries have been reported.

The recalled rims are the Salsa Alto models, which have a black anodized finish and are labeled “Salsa” and “Salsa Alto” in yellow, red and white. The rims, which are used on mountain bikes that have disc brakes, were sold individually or built up into wheels with Shimano Deore or Deore XT hubs.

Independent bicycle dealers sold these rims from January through August 2001 for $50 (individually) or for $100 to $150 (in built up wheels).

Stop using these rims and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or free replacement. For more information, call Salsa Cycles at (877) 887-2572 or visit www.salsacycles.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to have their fuel-burning appliances — furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers, water heaters and space heaters — professionally inspected to prevent lethal carbon monoxide (CO) leaks.

These appliances can produce CO under certain conditions; however, they are safe to use with proper installation and maintenance. An annual inspection and service could prevent lethal results.

CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can be produced by burning any fuel. Initial signs of CO poisoning are similar to flu symptoms: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. Under high levels of exposure, CO can result in death.

The CPSC reported that CO poisoning kills about 200 people every year. The commission recommends a yearly professional inspection of chimneys, flues and vents for leakage or blockage and of fuel-burning appliances to ensure they are not loose or disconnected. Such conditions could allow pollutants to leak into the house.

Every home should have at least one CO alarm that meets the most recent Underwriters Laboratories or International Approval Services standards, according to the CPSC.

For more information call, CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.